WESTERN SPRINGS – When coaches put their players through hours of painful fitness training throughout practices, it’s games like these that fuel why they do it.

Lyons Township was in control for almost all of its opening game against Warren, but the Lions couldn’t close the deal. A 21-point fourth quarter lead disappeared and the Blue Devils shocked LT, 42-35, in three overtimes Saturday after lightning forced the original Friday date to be postponed.

Whether the collapse was due to fatigue, a drop in intensity after building up the lead or adjustments on Warren’s part ultimately doesn’t matter. The Lions now are 0-1 heading into a West Suburban crossover with Willowbrook.

The loss ruined a solid performance from senior quarterback Brent Moskiewicz, who played for typical starter Tommy Fiedler. Moskiewicz threw for three touchdowns and ran in another and had just one turnover, a fumble in the third overtime that ended the game.

Weinberg said Fiedler is expected back for Week 2, but expressed faith in Moskiewicz.

“He ran the offense well and looked sharp doing it, I was pleased,” Weinberg said. “There’s no difference in expectation for him or Tommy. Our offense ran normally. Tommy is a great player, but Brent is a heck of a player, too. Brent would be a starting quarterback on a lot of teams.”

On the defensive side, senior safety Matt Mrazek picked off two passes and caught a touchdown in overtime during one of his occasional plays on offense. He couldn’t explain how the defense entered the fourth quarter with a shutout, but then surrendered touchdowns on Warren’s next six possessions, three in the fourth quarter and three in overtime.

“I don’t really think they changed much,” Mrazek said. “We’re a better team than they are. Obviously they beat us because we didn’t play like that. The first half we played the way we should… the second half I think the inexperience came out a little bit. People became a little lackadaisical.”